early life and struggle for the throne crown prince korkut, also known as şehzade cem, was a claimant to the ottoman throne in the 15th century. born in 1459, he was the third son of sultan mehmed ii and younger half-brother of sultan bayezid ii, making him a half-uncle of sultan selim i of the ottoman empire. the struggle for power after being defeated by his brother bayezid, cem went into exile in egypt and europe, seeking protection from the mamluks, the knights hospitaller of st. john on the island of rhodes, and ultimately the pope. this period marked a significant turning point in ottom…